Argentina warm up against Grenoble

Top 14 club Grenoble have flown their entire squad to Argentina, where they will play two friendly games against los Pumas.

Top 14 club Grenoble have flown their entire squad to Argentina, where they will play two friendly games against los Pumas.

On Sunday, 51 players and staff members from the French club took off for South America following an invitation from the Argentina Rugby Union.

As part of the build-up to the new French season, they will spend two weeks in Buenos Aires for a training camp and are set to face their hosts, who are preparing for the Rugby Championship, twice.

The Pumas have also been in camp having recently returned from their annual trip to the EXOS facilities in Pensacola, Florida.

"The idea from the beginning was to start a training plan there that will continue in Argentina, which aims to improve overall fitness, doing more specific work to the needs of each player," said Pumas conditioning coach Gonzalo Santos.

"We seek to improve the mobility and flexibility of each player in the gym and work pending the outcomes of the tests we do to get there. "

Grenoble have made a habit of preseason travelling too, with their coaching staff visiting New Zealand, Australia and South Africa on fact finding missions in recent years, while the squad trained in Russia in 2011

The UAR will cover the costs of the entire trip, but the Grenoble players will not be in holiday mode, as they follow in the footsteps of Stade FranÃ§ais, who made a similar trips a two years back.

"This will not be a tourist trip," said director of rugby Fabrice Landreau.

"We arrive in the middle of their winter. We are going there to work," said forwards coach Sylvain Begon.

"For the club, it's a great opportunity," said centre Geoffroy Messina.

"It breaks the routine. We thank the Argentines for that. We are happy and proud to play two matches against the Pumas"